HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020City of Port Townsend 2020
Annual Drinking Water Report
The City of Port Townsend is pleased to present our Annual Water
Quality Report for the year 2020. The following report shares informa�on
on how the water u�lity’s treatment system and cer�fied operators
ensure safe and clean drinking water is distributed to the residents
of Port Townsend. The City’s mul�-barrier water treatment process
u�lizes ultra-filtra�on membranes for contaminant removal along
with chlorine as a disinfectant to kill viruses and other pathogens.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has concluded that there is no evidence that the virus that causes
COVID-19 can be spread to people by drinking treated water and that the filtra�on and disinfec�on process-
es for drinking water systems should protect against the spread of COVID-19. For more informa�on about
the COVID-19 virus please refer to the CDC website: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html.
Water tes�ng in 2020 shows Port Townsend’s drinking water meets or exceeds all State and Federal regulatory
standards. Our essen�al workers remain vigilant in serving our residents in the best way possible.
Water Sources
The City of Port Townsend’s water supply (System ID #
69000R) is surface water from the Big Quilcene and Li�le
Quilcene Rivers (Source # 01 and 02) in the northeast
corner of the Olympic Na�onal Forest. Water is stored in
Lords Lake and City Lake Reservoirs. As with all surface
water sources, the Washington Department of Health
(DOH) rates the City’s source water as highly suscep�ble
to contamina�on. The City and U.S. Forest Service
con�nue to cooperate in a joint effort to manage and
protect the municipal watershed to maintain high quality
source water.
Water Use Efficiency Report
Efficient water use benefits the environment, water system
opera�ons, and our customers by maintaining more water
in the streams and lowering opera�ng costs. Last year an
average of 863,176 gallons of water per day was delivered to
our 10,440 customers and many visitors. Total City
consump�on was 350 million gallons with residen�al
consump�on averaging 61 gallons per person per day. Of
the total consump�on, 8.2% or 28.8 million gallons was
unaccounted for by customer meters or other measurement,
while the 3 year average loss was 8.3%. Unaccounted for
water is lost through such things as under-registering
meters, use of fire hydrants, and leaking underground pipes.
Port Townsend has an ongoing leak detec�on program to
inspect the water system for leaks and reduce unaccounted
for water.
(Big Quilcene River)
(Operator performing maintenance at drinking water facility)
Water quality sampling results are for the monitoring performed January 1 – December 31,
2020 unless otherwise noted in the tables. Sampling for certain contaminants occurs less
than once per year because concentra�ons of these contaminants are not expected to
vary significantly from year to year. While the City tests for more than eighty regulated
contaminants, the substances listed in the following tables are the only ones detected in
our drinking water.
To ensure tap water is safe to drink, the Department of Health and EPA prescribe regula�ons
that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.
The Food and Drug Administra�on (FDA) and the Washington Department of Agriculture
regula�ons establish limits for contaminants in bo�led water, which must provide the
same protec�on for public health.
(Water Treatment Facility)
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.
Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have
undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and
infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water
from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection
by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791).
The City of port Townsend collected a minimum of 15 compliance samples per month for total coliforms
and E. coli. Neither were detected in our system in 2020. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the
water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality. High turbidity can hinder the
effec�veness of disinfectants.
Microbiological
Cons�tuents
Sample Date/
Frequency
Detected
Levels
Units MCL
MRDLG
Typical Source
Total Coliform
Bacteria
15 �mes per
month, and as
needed
ND NA
NTU
Contaminant
Present
No
No
Viola�on
Naturally present in
the environment
Turbidity Con�nuous
Sampling
0.013-0.046 TT Soil Runoff
Disinfec�on
Cons�tuents
Sample Date/
Frequency
Detected
Levels
Units MCL
MRDLG
Typical Source
Haloace�c Acids
(HAA5)
Quarterly *13.6-45.4
**LRAA 31.6
*19.9-62.6
**LRAA 42.5
ppb 60 No
Viola�on
By-product of Drinking
Water chlorina�on
Chlorine Con�nuous
Sampling
0.039-1.14 ppm 4 No Water addi�ve used to
control microbes
Total Trihalomethanes
(TTHM)
Quarterly ppb 80 No By-product of Drinking
Water chlorina�on
The HAA5s and TTHMs are results from 4 tes�ng loca�ons in Port Townsend, which are monitored quarterly to comply with regula�ons. *Lowest and highest actual value. **Highest Loca�onal Running Annual Average of the 4 sites. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of ge�ng cancer. Some people who drink water containing haloace�c acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of ge�ng cancer. Chlorine provides the required microbiological disinfec�on of our drinking water. Some people who use water containing chlorine well in excess of the MRDL could experience an irrita�ng effect to their eyes and nose and may experience stomach discomfort.
(crew repairing water line leak)
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young
children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and
home plumbing. Port Townsend is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the
variety of materials used in plumbing components. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to
have your water tested. Informa�on on lead in drinking water, tes�ng methods, and steps you can take to minimize
exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
To minimize the chance of lead exposure, it is recommended to flush faucets when they have gone unused for
more than a few hours. It takes �me for lead to dissolve in water, so the first water drawn from the tap in the morning
or a�er a long period of non-use can contain higher levels of lead. Flushing clears standing water from your plumbing
fixtures and home service lines to ensure you are ge�ng drinking water from water distribu�on mains, where lead
is not likely to be present. Let the water run from the tap un�l it is no�ceably colder (this may take a minute or two)
before using it for cooking or drinking. Remember to flush any faucet used for drinking a�er long periods of
non-use. Lead leaches more easily into hot water than cold water so use only cold water for cooking or drinking.
Copper is an essen�al nutrient, but some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the ac�on level
over a rela�vely short period of �me could experience gastrointes�nal distress. Some people who drink water
containing copper in excess of the ac�on level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with
Wilson’s disease should consult their personal doctor.
Drinking water, including bottled
water, may reasonably be
expected to contain at least small
amounts of some contaminants.
The presence of contaminants
does not necessarily indicate that
water poses a health risk. More
information about contaminants
and potential health effects can
be obtained by calling the EPA’s
Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791).
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water)
include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As
water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it
dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive
material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of
animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in
source water include:
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses, protozoans, and bacteria,
which may come from wildlife, people and pets visiting the watershed.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally
occurring.
Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from sources such as forestry
management.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic
chemicals, which can come from vehicles in the watershed or that result
from chlorine combining with naturally occurring organic matter.
Radioactive contaminants, which can occur naturally or result from oil
and gas production and mining activities.
*Lead and Copper 90th Percen�le: Out of every 10 homes sampled, 9 were at or below this level.
Residen�al
Tes�ng
Sample Date
/Frequency
Detected
Levels
Units Ac�on
Levels
Typical Source
Lead
30 sites sampled
July 2019
Every 3 Years
* 90th
Percen�le
0.004
ppm
ppm
0.015 No
No
Viola�on
Corrosion of plumbing
in certain homes
Copper
30 sites sampled
July 2019
Every 3 Years
* 90th
Percen�le
0.36
1.3 Corrosion of plumbing
in certain homes
Definitions:
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other
requirements which a water system must follow.Lead and Copper 90th Percentile: Out of every 10 homes sampled, 9 were at or below this level.Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA): Highest quarterly average of four samples taken at the four sam-
pling locations.Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is
no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.
There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which
there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to
control microbial contaminants.NA: Not ApplicableND: Not Detected or below State Reporting Limit.NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units - a measure of the cloudiness of the water.ppb: Parts per billion or micrograms per liter (µg/L).ppm: Parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L).Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
The public is invited to par�cipate in decisions that affect drinking water through comment to the Port Townsend
City Council. Informa�on about scheduled mee�ngs is available through the City Administra�on Office
360-385-3000 or via the City’s web site: h�ps://cityofpt.us/calendar. If you have any addi�onal ques�ons about the
drinking water or would like a complete list of substances for which we test, please call Ian Jablonski at the Port
Townsend Department of Water Quality (360-379-5001). Informa�on is also available on the City’s web site:
www.cityofpt.us/Water
Water Hardness
Water hardness is the amount of naturally occurring dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water. Hardness
is expressed as the concentra�on of calcium carbonate measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). The City of Port
Townsend’s water hardness at last sampling was 45.4 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is considered so�.
City of Port Townsend | 250 Madison Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 | www.cityofpt.us
(Port Townsend’s water comes from the Olympic Mountains)
Some people who drink water containing Barium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience
an increase of their blood pressure.
Inorganic
Cons�tuents
Sample Date
/Frequency
Detected
Levels
Units MCL
MRDLG
Typical Source
Barium March 2020
Every 7 Years
0.038 ppm
mg/L
2 No
No
Viola�on
Erosion of natural
deposits
Complete
Inorganic
Compounds
3/4/2020
Every 9 Years
Below MCL Various Naturally occurring or
manmade